Dwell in the Tabernacle of God

Viking longhouse with walls made of finely interwoven branches

Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles is the third and final Hebrew pilgrim festival called for by God.  Also known as the Feast of Ingathering, it follows the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Weeks.  It has been observed by Hebrews for generations and will occur this year from October 2nd through October 9th, 2020.  What is the Feast of Tabernacles and what is its significance?

After Israel was delivered out of their oppression by Moses, the LORD made them to dwell in tabernacles.  In Hebrew these dwellings were called succoth which means ‘booths,’ ‘tents,’ or ‘tabernacles.’  The temporary shelters were made of interwoven branches that protected them in the wilderness.

“And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD… You shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”

Leviticus 23:33-43
Modern sukkah

The Jubilee, Sound the Trumpet

The word jubile can mean, ‘the sound of a trumpet,’ ‘a trumpet-blast of liberty’ and/or ‘a shout of joy’. A Trumpet is commanded to sound in the Jubilee Year as signal of the year of release for all the people who will hear the sound and come to the ingathering of the congregation. It is a day of great rejoicing for the House of Israel, a Day of Atonement, salvation, liberty, restoration and comfort. In days of ole, the Jubilee year was announced by a blast on a shofar, an instrument made from a ram’s horn, during that year’s Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement.

The priest blowing the shofar
The Jubilee Shofar or Ram’s Horn was the Trumpet Sound

Q&A: “The Valley of Dry Bones”

Question: What is the meaning of “The Valley of Dry Bones”?

The Valley of Dry Bones is a reference to Ezekiel chapter 37 where we find him being carried away and set down in a valley filled with bones. They are a disconnected, dried up body whose bones are scattered, without life. Their hope is gone.

These ‘bones’ are the House of Israel, the Body of Christ.

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